Cartoons, Illustration & Opinion Art
DIARY COMICS. CARTOONS. GRAPHIC PERSONAL ESSAYS. DRAWN JOURNALISM. EDITORIAL ILLUSTRATION
Drawing to stay sane...
Hello and welcome to my crazy cartoon world! My name is Zara M. I'm a writer, cartoonist and illustrator based in the UK. I live in a cottage with my dog, my cat, and a mental illness.
I began drawing cartoons to process my feelings after being diagnosed with Cyclothymic Disorder and EUPD Traits. Later, I used cartoons to express how I felt when unemployed and struggling to find work. Most recently, I have been drawing a daily diary comic to navigate my experience of being on (and tapering off) antidepressants, after burnout and redundancy.
My cartoons and comics have become a creative and cathartic outlet. I love how drawing enables me to connect with people through shared lived experience and not feel so alone.
My work comments not only on mental health issues, but also on what it's like to be a human being living in the world today. I hope there is something in my stories and art that everyone and anyone can relate to.
Professional Journey...
I have a background in creative writing and studied English Literature, BA Film & Media and MA Screenwriting.
After running my own portfolio of small creative businesses, I decided to focus on freelance writing, as writing has always been my passion. I was later employed full-time as a professional SEO writer and then a content writer on lifestyle publications.
After one too many redundancies and feeling completely burnt out, I decided to focus on my recovery while developing a year-long daily diary comics project that explores mental health themes such as tapering off an antidepressant and dealing with unexpected protracted withdrawal.
I am now starting to think about connecting with agents and publishers to pitch my diary comics project as a graphic memoir. Meanwhile, I am busy carving out a new creative niche for myself as a cartoonist.
Work with me...
I am available for a variety of creative collaborations and commissions – if they involve a combination of writing and drawing.
I am looking to develop a body of published cartoons, comic strips, long-form graphic personal essays, illustrated features, and drawn journalism.
I am particularly interested in longer projects and commissions, such as visual columns, ongoing comic strips, illustrated books and graphic novels.
If you like my style and would like to work with me or commission a piece or two, please get in touch!
